A NSW man who allegedly waged an almost decade-long harassment campaign against Blue Mountains politicians has worn a Cookie Monster t-shirt to court where he asked to be allowed to access the internet. Robert Ellis Kennedy is accused of harassing and stalking Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill, councillor Brendan Luchetti and state MP Trish Doyle. The 37-year-old was arrested in August after a strike force began investigating reports a man was harassing and threatening members of council and local politicians. He's now facing a string of charges including three counts of using the internet to menace, harass or offend and three counts of stalking the three politicians. One of his alleged victims - Mr Luchetti - suffered for almost a decade from July 2010 to August 2019, court documents suggest. Kennedy is further charged with two counts of publishing false or misleading material to obtain an advantage. Police have previously said Kennedy made false allegations of sexual assault, child sexual abuse and inappropriate relationships as well as making threats via social media, text messages and phone calls. Detectives allege he made false statements in two interviews with investigators from the Diocese of Parramatta - once between August 2014 and August 2015 and again in March 2019. Police believe Kennedy made false statements with the intention of causing someone to lose their job. Kennedy faced Penrith Local Court on Thursday, September 5. He was self-represented and asked for a variation to his strict bail conditions so he could access the internet. The police prosecutor didn't oppose the bail variation so long as Kennedy only accesses four websites including MyGov, Service NSW and Centrelink. The court heard Kennedy no longer worked at his previous place of employment. Magistrate Peter Thompson pondered how authorities could be sure Kennedy was only accessing the four authorised websites but was assured the officer in charge could monitor the access. Mr Thompson adjourned the matter to September 26 to give Kennedy time to access Legal Aid. Australian Associated Press

Serial harasser wants internet access, court hears

A NSW man who allegedly waged an almost decade-long harassment campaign against Blue Mountains politicians has worn a Cookie Monster t-shirt to court where he asked to be allowed to access the internet.

The 37-year-old was arrested in August after a strike force began investigating reports a man was harassing and threatening members of council and local politicians.

He's now facing a string of charges including three counts of using the internet to menace, harass or offend and three counts of stalking the three politicians.

One of his alleged victims - Mr Luchetti - suffered for almost a decade from July 2010 to August 2019, court documents suggest.

Kennedy is further charged with two counts of publishing false or misleading material to obtain an advantage.

Police have previously said Kennedy made false allegations of sexual assault, child sexual abuse and inappropriate relationships as well as making threats via social media, text messages and phone calls.

Detectives allege he made false statements in two interviews with investigators from the Diocese of Parramatta - once between August 2014 and August 2015 and again in March 2019.

Police believe Kennedy made false statements with the intention of causing someone to lose their job.

Kennedy faced Penrith Local Court on Thursday, September 5. He was self-represented and asked for a variation to his strict bail conditions so he could access the internet.

The police prosecutor didn't oppose the bail variation so long as Kennedy only accesses four websites including MyGov, Service NSW and Centrelink.

The court heard Kennedy no longer worked at his previous place of employment.

Magistrate Peter Thompson pondered how authorities could be sure Kennedy was only accessing the four authorised websites but was assured the officer in charge could monitor the access.

Mr Thompson adjourned the matter to September 26 to give Kennedy time to access Legal Aid.